[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/the-difficult-second-car\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/the-difficult-second-car\/","headline":"The Difficult Second Car: Making The Right Choice","name":"The Difficult Second Car: Making The Right Choice","description":"How to choose your second car – our recommendations and things to consider Buying your second car is an exciting event and a very important decision that can impact your world, either for the better or the worse. If you\u2019re like most drivers, your second car will probably be more powerful, faster, more expensive and potentially newer than your first car. That being said, there is no one-size-fits-all for second cars as different people are after different things, be it […]","datePublished":"2019-08-28","dateModified":"2019-09-04","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/The-Difficult-Second-Car-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/The-Difficult-Second-Car-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/the-difficult-second-car\/","about":["BLOG","Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":1176,"keywords":["cars","recommendations","second car"],"articleBody":"How to choose your second car – our recommendations and things to considerBuying your second car is an exciting eventand a very important decision that can impact your world, either for the betteror the worse. If you\u2019re like most drivers, your second car will probably bemore powerful, faster, more expensive and potentially newer than your firstcar. That being said, there is no one-size-fits-all for second cars asdifferent people are after different things, be it speed, luxury, comfort,economy, style and so on. Whatever you\u2019re looking for, we\u2019re here to help guideyou in the right direction because we know better than most that there\u2019snothing worse than making a car purchase you regret! Firstly,consider what you wantYour second car is exciting for many reasons,one of which is that you have a lot more freedom in picking. Whether you passedwhen you were 17 or 30, there\u2019s a strong chance that your first car was somesort of underpowered, plastic-clad hatchback. Now that you have graduated fromthe undoubtedly scuff-and-bump-laden learner car, you are free to choosesomething a bit more special. Insurance is the main problem here as limited driving experience will often equate to rather inflated insurance quotes. That being said, a few years of no claims and a couple of older, experienced drivers on your policy can go a long way in bringing the price down. If you\u2019re after insurance that comes with award-winning service, give our friends over at Performance Direct a try!Saloons, coupes, SUVs, crossovers, roadsters,convertibles, hot hatches, pickup trucks, estates, electric cars – there\u2019s awide range of car types to choose from and each offers a slightly differentexperience. There is also a great number of brilliant car manufacturers outthere, each with a different story and reputation. German automakers such asAudi, BMW and Mercedes are known for their build quality, if you\u2019re looking forreliability they say Honda, Toyota and Kia are pretty good cars to bet on andso on. Used car bargainsIf you prefer money in your wallet rather than out of it, you will probably want to opt for a used car. There are many used bargains out there if you\u2019re ok with your car not having the very latest in infotainment technology, or fitted with the latest quad-camera parking aid equipment. Thanks to our old frenemy depreciation, we cannow enjoy cars that once sold for over \u00a330,000 for 25% of the original price.Sure, it may have a few thousand miles on it and the wheels may be scuffed up,but with a mechanic\u2019s inspection and a wheel refurb, the car will be as good asnew! The more expensive the car originally was, the more you\u2019ll save! Forexample, you can find mint-condition, 10-year-old Mercedes S Class\u2019s for under\u00a314,000 – these cars were originally sold for over \u00a370,000!However, if you\u2019re aiming to save money and make a wise, educated purchase you\u2019re going to need to dedicate some of your time and a bit of your money as well before you buy. It could take months before the right car pops up for sale – with the right mileage, age, spec, colour, history etc. Furthermore, researching reviews, common problems and which spec you would be happy with all take time and patience. And don\u2019t forget to exercise due diligence by looking up the car\u2019s MOT history and getting an inspection with your local mechanic or a company like the AA or RAC. Some recommendations for best second carsHonda S2000 – Sporty, reliable roadster that\u2019ll hold its valueIf you want a convertible two-seater withrising demand, the S2000 is the one for you. They\u2019re well known for goodreliability, being a great deal of fun to drive and also for holding theirvalue very well. You may even find that they\u2019re due to start appreciating inprice, so you could be lucky enough to sell for a profit a few years down theline!Ford Fiesta ST-Line – Sporty, modern, techy hatchbackIf you\u2019re looking for style, performance, techand value, look no further. You can find these used for under \u00a39,000 and only afew years old, or spec one out and order it new for around \u00a319,000. For addedperformance, add a remap onto one of these and turn it into a real pocketrocket!BMW 3 Series E90\/E92 – Luxury saloon\/coupe that\u2019s reasonable on insuranceFor around the same price as the used Fiestas just mentioned, you could own a BMW 3 Series. Although they\u2019re around 10 years old now, they still make for incredible-looking cars, on the inside and out. Unlike newer luxury saloons, a 10-year-old 320d E90 won\u2019t cost you as much as you think it would when it comes to insurance.\u00a0 Skoda Octavia – Good value, well-spec\u2019d, practical saloon\/estateThe nice people over at Skoda are doing a lotto improve their reputation and it really shows in their cars. The Octavia canbe very well equipped in the right spec and the interior is spacious andstylish. They\u2019re incredibly economical and a 2013 model can be bought for aslittle as \u00a36,000. For the price, the Octavia goes above and beyond. For addedpracticality, look at the Octavia estate and for a sportier setup, look at theOctavia VRS range. Unusual choices make for cheap insurancePart of what makes up insurance prices is thestatistics on how many claims occur with that particular car. This is whychoosing a car that isn\u2019t popularly driven by young drivers can often be a goodthing. If insurance prices are a problem, try gettinga quote for a Volvo V40 instead of a Fiesta ST, or a Seat Toledo rather than anAudi A3. Older cars are usually cheaper to insure as well so if you have aparticular model in mind, try to buy the oldest one that you can. Making the right choiceIf your second car is going to be vastly different from your first car, it\u2019s even more important that you research it as much as you can. Watch in-depth videos of it on YouTube, learn about all the quirks and features you can! It\u2019s no fun buying a car and only realising afterwards that it doesn\u2019t have BlueTooth connectivity, or that there\u2019s no way to turn off the start-stop engine function. Of course, the best way to learn everythingyou need to about a car you have your eyes on is to visit a dealership and askthe friendly, often pushy, salespeople for a test drive. Feel the fabrics andsurfaces, understand the infotainment system, ask about the fuel consumptionand the tax group. As long as you take your time, ask all the questions on yourmind and make an informed purchase, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll make the rightchoice and enjoy your second car for all the time you have it. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Difficult Second Car: Making The Right Choice","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/the-difficult-second-car\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]